Tightening Space for 'Non-Insiders' in Universities; 'Insiders' Replace 'Dissenting' Professors

With the widespread expulsion of 'critical' professors from universities and on the brink of the new academic year, several government-affiliated figures have been appointed as 'professors' to replace the expelled faculty. The 'Modara' website revealed a new government figure for teaching at prestigious Iranian universities on Sunday, stating: 'Sajad Safar Herandi, son of Mohammad Hossein Safar Herandi, the Minister of Culture in Ahmadinejad's government, has been appointed as a professor at Sharif University of Technology.' Before him, Amir Hossein Sabati, a presenter on the OFOG TV network and a member of the Stability Front, had also gained the title of professor at Iran's most prestigious technical university. These two loyal government figures are set to teach the course on Islamic Revolution in the upcoming semester. Abbas Mozoun, another presenter from state television who has replaced Ehsan Alikhani in Ramadan programs, has also been appointed as a professor to teach 'The Rituals of Life' at Sharif University. Hossein Shariatmadari, the editor-in-chief of Kayhan newspaper, expressed satisfaction with the expulsion of university professors, confirming the political nature of these dismissals and linking them to last year's protests. In his newspaper, Shariatmadari praised the presence of 'committed brothers' in university classrooms, writing: 'The news of employing our committed brothers Sabati and Mozoun as guest professors at Sharif University faced an onslaught from Western-oriented groups because the commitment of these two brothers to Islam and the Islamic Revolution and their opposition to the enemies of Islamic Iran has been proven many times.' On the other hand, the Academic Association of Iranian University Professors issued a statement severely criticizing the 'excessive interference of security-intelligence institutions' regarding 'attacks on the sanctity of universities and the gradual decline of their scientific aspects.' This association, in its statement, referred to efforts by certain factions to undermine the independence of universities since the beginning of the revolution, mentioning a letter attributed to Ahmad Vahidi, the Minister of Interior, to the Organization of Administrative and Employment Affairs, in which 'faculty members are introduced as the main cause of the unrest in 1401.' The Academic Association of Iranian University Professors warned that the continuation of the current trend would 'not only have dire consequences for the country and its development and progress but also will not fulfill the goals and demands of monopolistic interveners.' Kazem Alamdari, a sociology professor, commented on these expulsions to Voice of America, stating: 'These anti-science and anti-university policies have been the policy of the Islamic Republic from the beginning to today.' He added: 'This policy, which has peaked today, is in line with the 44-year policy because the Islamic Republic fears the awareness of the people, and universities and students are the most important elements of enlightening society.' Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, the former Minister of Communications and Information Technology, also reacted to the expulsion of some professors on his personal page on the social network 'X,' asking: 'Do these alleged administrative reasons only apply to severing ties with critical professors in universities or is it applicable to all professors?' On Saturday, September 4, media reported the expulsion and suspension of several professors from Sharif, Tehran, and Tabatabai universities. Ali Sharifi-Zarchi from Sharif University, Hamideh Khademi and Ameneh Aali from the psychology faculty of Allameh Tabatabai University, Vahid Eidgah, assistant professor in the Persian Language and Literature department, Javad Bashari, assistant professor in the Persian Language and Literature department, Milad Azimi, assistant professor in the Persian Language and Literature department, Leili Varahram, professor in the Culture and Ancient Languages department, Ghasem Azizi, assistant professor in the Arabic Language and Literature department, Hossein Mesbahian, assistant professor in the Philosophy department, and Dariush Rahmanian, a history professor, are among the faculty members who have been deprived of continuing their academic activities. The trend of dealing with critical or non-aligned professors, including removal, suspension, expulsion, and forced retirement, which has continued in recent years, has intensified following last year's nationwide protests, especially in recent months. According to the latest university rankings in the 'Shanghai Ranking' system, the position of several Iranian universities, including Tehran University and Sharif University, has declined compared to last year. The intensification of the expulsion of opposing and critical professors and students of the Islamic Republic has been condemned by the Academic Association of Iranian University Professors for the 'excessive interference of security-intelligence institutions.' The continued crackdown on critical university professors; Ali Sharifi-Zarchi from Sharif University was expelled. The continued expulsion of dissenting teachers; the Coordinating Council of Teachers' Trade Unions: Protests continue. Simultaneously with the widespread expulsion of professors, the Ministry of Science issued a call for the recruitment of 3,000 new faculty members. The widespread expulsion of university professors continues; the decline of global university rankings and a new wave of migration. A Sharif University professor called the covert recruitment of fifteen thousand government-aligned professors a 'disaster.'